FACT investigating crash involving school bus and pedestrian

MISHAWAKA, Ind. -- A 63-year-old woman was struck by a school bus Monday morning while crossing the street near the intersection of Ireland Road and Bremen Highway.

The crash happened around 8:30 a.m.

FACT investigators say the bus driver didn't see the pedestrian before hitting her.

There were 25 students from Grissom Middle School on the bus at the time. None were injured. They have since been taken to school.

Investigators say 63-year-old Joanne Hibner of Mishawaka was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The investigation is ongoing.

The Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation released the following statement

Penn-Harris-Madison Department of Transportation was notified after 8:00 a.m. this morning (Monday, January 14, 2019) that Bus #86 was involved in accident with a pedestrian at the intersection of Fulmer Road and Bremen Highway. We have confirmed with the St. Joseph County Crash Team investigating the accident that the P-H-M bus driver was travelling westbound on Fulmer, and made a right hand turn to head north on Bremen Highway when Joanne Hibner, who was walking southbound in the northbound lane, was struck. We understand that Ms. Hibner was transported to Memorial Hospital and is being treated for injuries. We’ve called to check on her condition. Our thoughts are with Ms. Hibner and her family. We hope that she makes a full recovery. This is an active and ongoing police investigation by the Crash Team. P-H-M along with the bus driver is cooperating fully with investigators. We have learned from police that the bus driver told investigators that she did not see the pedestrian. At the time of the accident, the bus was transporting 25 students to Grissom Middle School. Neither the students nor bus driver was injured in the accident. Grissom Middle School administrators and counseling staff met the students when they arrived to school this morning. We are providing counseling support to these students and are in communication with their parents to offer any additional resources that they may need.